Dolores Phyllis Navarro

Dolores was born in Lake Lenore, Saskatchewan on June 30, 1932 to Francesca and John Ludwig. Her father announced her birth to her siblings, saying, “We have a Redhead!” She was the first baby delivered by Dr. Louis Goluboff in the Village hospital, and the first baptism officiated by her Uncle-Father Alphonse Ludwig.

Dolores loved to sing at home, at school, at play and in the Church choir, and had the voice of an angel. As a youngster, she sang on a radio amateur hour and received First place awards. At grade school, she also received awards for her artistic talents. In sports at recess, Dolores and her sister Christina joined the boys playing football. The nuns quickly ended this. It appeared the boys called this 'touch' football, and played the game accordingly.

Fast forward to moving from the Village in 1945 to the City of Saskatoon and then to 1954 when Dolores and her sister Mary moved to Los Angeles where she met Freddie. Their marriage was the epitome of what true love and happy marriage was all about. They were blessed with Valerie and Laura. Later they were happy to welcome John and Greg and five beautiful granddaughters to their family.

Perhaps by mentioning the 'early days', it will help the younger generation know a little more about this special person.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOLORES ... JUNE 30 ... MAY YOU REST IN PEACE

By Greg:

A kind, gentle and caring soul, Dolores Navarro, left our world yesterday morning to join her husband Fred in heaven. She died quietly in the home of her daughter, Valerie, and son-in-law, John, who saw to her every need and provided a place for her family to fill her final days with love and attention. Dolores spent the last 3 years of her life caring for Fred and finally succumb to cancer yesterday morning, June 24, just before sunrise.

Dolores was raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the Ludwig family where she and her 12 siblings helped run the family general store, which accounts for her unstoppable work ethic. I’m not sure what accounted for Dolores energy and optimism, but she lived life with an inspiringly positive attitude and was an unshakable optimist in her view of the world, which was well grounded in her faith. Dolores was a very active members of St Irenaeus Church in Cypress, where she and Fred were involved in just about every dimension of Christian Services. They were living examples of what humble, helpful and compassionate lives looked like.

The very last thing Dolores said to me a few days before she passed was, “How are you doing?”, which is typical of Dolores’ spirit. Always looking outside of herself through compassionate eyes, her understanding of the world was very simple. Fully accepting of her own reality, your challenges were always more important than any issues she was having. She was a shining example of what living for others looks like.

Regardless of the size of the event, Dolores and Fred were always the first couple to pop up out of their seats and hit the dance floor, stepping with a precision that only a life spent dancing together for more than 50 years could bring. I picture Fred taking Dolores by the hand in her final moment of life and leading her gracefully off to their next dance floor, once again in perfect step